Saltwater Outings Calendar
a look at this years plan for saltwater outings
2011 Saltwater Outings Plan
The 2011 Saltwater Outings Plan has been revised and is still in-progress at this date, new Outing dates are listed below for your use. About a month before any planned outing additional details or changes will be posted to the website. Always remember to check for last minute updates and changes.
No outing planned
4th Annual TFF Sheepshead Spectacular
aka The Texas Prison Permit Invitational
How to sign up: Sign up on line, call or e-mail the trip leader. To sign up on line, use the following link: http://www.texasflyfishers.org/swoutings.html
Trip Details: We will meet up at the ICW Boat Ramp in Sargent, Tx. and fish the shorelines of East Matagorda Bay. Depending on how cold the water is and the tides, we'll probably kick the boats off around 8:00 - 8:30 am. The time will be confirmed prior to the outing date. Sheepshead cruise down the sandbar ledges in groups and you can literally stand there casting non-stop as they cruise by. Since sheepshead like your fly at rest on the bottom, retrieved with very slow strips, the preferred method of fishing is to wade rather than to pole a boat. While we will be wading (mostly) it will be on hard sand bars and you shouldn't have to wade far. Small weighted flies on a size 6 or 8 hook are recommended, and be sure to good sharp hooks for their tough mouths. A small black fly, about an inch long, with a little bit of chartreuse on the tail is usually the go to fly. Crab flies also work well also. The key is making a small fly that lands quietly, but still can get down to the sand quickly. The water depth is usually only about a foot or two deep. Not much weight is need just enough to make sure it's on the bottom. If you want to tie some up, contact Alan's for his list of best producers.
Directions: To get there, take HWY. 59 South, exit HWY 36 in Rosenberg. Head south on HWY 36 and go south for about 45 min (through Needville, Damon, West Columbia, and Brazoria). Drive through Brazoria and take a right on FM 2611, (the red light just past the prison) Follow FM 2611, over the San Bernard River, until it "T"s into HWY 457 (blinking yellow light). Turn left onto HWY 457 and follow until you reach the Intercoastal Waterway Bridge. Go over the swing bridge and take a right along the beach. Drive down the beach road about a mile until it dead ends to the boat ramp!
Important Trip Items: To participate be sure your member dues are current!
Recommended Participant Guidelines: Notify the trip leader if you have any potential concerns
Galveston State Park
"The Wind Blew and My Fly Flew"
How to Sign Up: Sign Up Online Here, call or e-mail the trip leader
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Trip Details: Wade fish the bay side of Galveston Island State Park, kayak Dana and Carancahua Coves or fish West Bay from your boat. We'll meet up at the entrance of the Galveston Island State Park at 7:00 am and from there, those with kayaks or those who will be wading, will pay the park entrance fee, then proceed to the State Park Bay Side, and put in. Those of you with boats can put in at Pirates Marina. According to the TPWD, the gate will be open by 7:00am.
Directions: Take I-45-S to Galveston. Exit 61st Street, turn right on 61st Street. Follow to the Seawall. Turn right and follow the Seawall to Pirates Beach. We'll meet up at the Galveston Island State Park the on the left.
Important items:
Recommended Participant Guidelines:
East Matagorda Bay – Outing
The Search for Big Sow Trout on the Flats!
Directions: To get there, take HWY 59 South, exit HWY 36 in Rosenberg. Head south on HWY 36 and go south for about 45 min. (through Needville, Damon, West Columbia, and Brazoria) Drive through Brazoria and take a right on FM 2611 (the red light just past the prison). Follow FM 2611, over the San Bernard River, until it "T"s into HWY 456 (blinking yellow light). Turn left onto HWY 457 and follow until you reach the Intercoastal Waterway Bridge. Go over the swing bridge and take a right along the beach. Drive down the beach road about a mile until it dead ends to the boat ramp!
Trip Details: We will meet up at the ICW Boat Ramp in Sargent and fish the south shoreline of East Matagorda Bay for, hopefully, some jumbo sized specks. We had one of our best turn outs for this outing last Spring and I hope we repeat this year. If you have a boat and plan on bringing it, please, do so. If you don't have a boat or kayak, let us know and we'll do our best to get you matched up with someone who has an empty seat. Last year, a lot of the fishing was done on foot along the shallow shore lines. Your fly box should include top water poppers, spoonflies, suspending or slow sinking and weighted flies in sizes up to 2/0. 6-8 wt outfits will be the norm, but with Spring winds, a 9 wt. wouldn't be considered overkill.
Important Items:
About the Area: East Matagorda Bay is a relatively small and shallow bay (about 5-6 foot deep). Fishing will most likely, (depending on wind direction), will be done on the south shoreline of the bay. Healthy grass keeps the shoreline clear and allows us to be able to sight cast to fish. The shoreline in general has a sand bar that runs about 50' off the bank and a softer sand bottom between the bar and the bank. The fish should be set in there spring patterns, big trout will be up shallow along with the red fish feeding on glass minnows and small shrimp.
Recommended Flies: Shrimp patterns and large profile patterns, deceivers and seaducers, are productive flies. Crab and Kwan style patterns also work well, as do V.I.P poppers and spoon flies. All flies should be weed less and slow sinking.
San Luis Pass / Christmas Bay
Surf, Sun and Fun
Trip Description: Spend the day fishing the waters of San Luis Pass, Christmas Bay and, conditions permitting, the surf just outside the pass, for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, ladyfish and the other denizens of San Luis Pass. These areas can be accessed by boat, kayak or by wading.
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, on the sign up sheet distributed at the monthly meeting or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Directions: From Galveston, take San Luis Pass Rd. (FM 3005) west. Cross the toll bridge. Note: There is a $2.00 toll, each direction, to cross the bridge. On the west side of the bridge, turn on the first street that goes Right and follow into the Brazoria Co. Campground. From Freeport / Surfside, take the Bluewater Highway (FM 257) appx. 15 miles to the Bright Light Store. Just as you pass the store but before the San Luis Pass Bridge, turn Left and follow into the Brazoria Co. Campground.
About the area: San Luis Pass is a 1 mile wide pass that connects West Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Located in the pass are a number of bars and cuts that attract trout, redfish and a number of other species. This area might be a good place to try out that intermediate line that you have stored away. But BEWARE, the tidal action and currents going through San Luis Pass create some nasty rip currents. Be sure to fish with a partner and, it might be a good idea to wear a PFD. To the west of the camp ground is Cold Pass and Titlum-Tatlum Bayou which connects Christmas Bay and San Luis Pass. This area can hold a good number of trout, redfish and flounder. Work the shorelines and grass but, it might be a good idea to use a fly with a weed guard. Once you are outside of Cold Pass, you can go to the right to Bastrop Bay or follow the shoreline to the south into Christmas Bay. The redfish and flounder like to hug the shorelines. This is a good spot to use that $7.50 Dupre Spoon fly.
Important items:
Recommended Equipment: 6-8 wt outfit with floating line. If you are going to fish the Pass or the surt, you might want to include an intermediate line. Also, take along some wire leader material just incase the Spanish Mackerel show up.
Recommended Flies: Clouser Minnows, Bend Backs, Poppers, Spoon Flies, Sea Ducers, White, Conehead Wooly Boogers, all weedless. Note: Purple is also a good late summer color for flounder. /p>
Recommended guidelines for participants:
St Joe Island and Fence Lake
“Row, row, row you kayak”
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, call or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Trip Details: Saturday June 11th morning, at first light, we'll load out on M/V Skimmer and enjoy the trip over to St. Joes Island and the mouth of Fence Lake. Then, we'll load out the kayaks and spend the day paddling and stalking the shallow water flats for big redfish. At the end of the day (as late as 4:30 pm), we'll be retrieved by the Skimmer and returned to Rockport. Then for those of you that can stay for Sunday, we'll all head over to Aransas Pass and hit some of the shallow water flats in Redfish Bay, Brown and Root Flats or the Lighthouse Lakes for another morning of chasing redfish, specks and ladyfish.
Cost: Saturday, June 11th: Transportation aboard the Skimmer – Cost TBD on per person basis. If you need to rent a kayak, they are available at Cost TBD per kayak/Per day. Box lunches [sandwich (turkey, ham or chicken salad), chips and cookie] are available for Cost TBD each. You will need to provide your own drinks. Tipping is optional and greatly appreciated. For more information about the Skimmer, check out the following link: Also let us know who is getting overnight accommodations, it is possible we'll have quite a few and we can get some group rates at the Drifters Resort. http://www.driftersresort.com A really nice place to stay with Roomside BBQ pits, ample parking, and complete RV park if desired. Very close to everything.
Directions: Go to Rockport. (Exact directions pending) Load Out at the Skimmer Dock at the Fulton Marina.
Important Items:
Recommended Participant Guidelines:
The Annual Port O’Connor One Fly
The Crystal One Fly Trophy is up for Grabs
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, call or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Guidelines:
Scoring:
Chandeleur Islands with Capt. Troy Fountain
"Let the Good Times Roll on the Double Trouble"
Back by popular demand!
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, call or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Trip Details: Two full days of guided fishing, lodging, and meals with Captain Fountain aboard the Double Trouble fishing the beautiful Chandeleur Islands off the LA/MS gulf coast. Fishing options will be inshore and offshore for pretty much whatever is biting. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Trip, a typical itinerary looks like this: Contact for additional Information: email:captchandeleur@cableone.net
1.) Arrive Friday Trip out to islands at midnight.
2.) Guided fishing Saturday and Sunday.
3.) All meals (excluding Friday evening) are provided.
4.) Lodging is provided Friday through Sunday on the Double
Trouble.
5.) Depart Sunday night if you choose.
Cost: $500 per person with a $250.00 deposit.
Directions: I-10 East to Biloxi, Ms. Further directions pending.
Important items:
Recommended Participant Guidelines:
Padre Island National Seashore
Let’s hope Ike left us some place to fish Tarpon, Jacks and Fix-A-Flat
Trip Description: We will take four-wheel drive vehicles down Padre Island National Seashore during the anchovy migration, and target blitzing schools of ladyfish, jacks, redfish, and tarpon. The current plan is to camp overnight on the beach near the 40-mile marker, but hotels outside the park offer another option. Currently, there is no plan to arrange time with Billy Sandifer's Padre Island Safari's.
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, on the sign up sheet distributed at the monthly meeting or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Cost (if any): National Seashore Entrance Fee $10 per vehicle
Directions (Usually from a central point): About 250 miles (4-5 hours) from central Houston Search Houston to Malaquite Beach in an online mapping program. We'll meet at the Malaquite Beach parking lot on Saturday morning where I'll collect your Liability Waiver.
About the area: At 60-70 miles long, Padre Island is the longest, undeveloped, barrier island in the world. Anglers with four-wheel drive vehicles can access almost all of it. Fall brings bait migrations and large schools of predators. The water is typically clear (much more so than Galveston). The club last did this trip last in September, 2006. Over that weekend 14 anglers hooked 8 tarpon. Countless large ladyfish were brought to hand, as well as some big jack crevalle. The typical fishing method involves cruising the beach while looking for signs of fish. When a school is sighted, anglers bail out and start casting. The Port Mansfield jetties (at the very end) offer deep water access. Driving on the beach can be difficult. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required. Realize that a tow for a stuck vehicle here could cost you thousands (yes, thousands). Cell phones do not work on the island, except at the extreme ends. The Malaquite Pavilion offers public showers to get off the sand and salt before the drive home.
Important items:
Recommended Equipment: 8 – 10 wt rods, full intermediate lines with at least 200-yds of backing. Short 4-5 foot long, straight leaders of 30-lb monofilament or fluorocarbon. Bite tippets of 50-80 lbs if targeting tarpon.
Recommended Flies:
Recommended guidelines for participants:
The 25th Annual
SILVER ANNIVERSERY" REDFISH RODEO
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, on the sign up sheet distributed at the monthly meeting or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
The Legend of The Redfish Rodeo: The Inaugural Redfish Rodeo was the brain child of twelve local fly fishers. It was held in 1986 in Port O'Connor, Texas. The prize was only for the longest redfish, but it is understood that there might have been a side bet or two. Being catch and release, there had to be some honesty check and that's what brought about the two person team concept. The partners were not true partners. Each fished to win the prize and could not help the other. The next year it was held in Rockport.
In 1988, the Gulf Coast Conservation Association started a fly fishing tournament in Port O'Connor. Since all twelve founders of the Redfish Rodeo were GCCA members, they opted to drop their tournament and support the GCCA. All the GCCA tournaments were held in Port O'Connor, which continued until 1995. In 1995, the Texas Flyfishers ran the tournament for GCCA, using their name. The next year GCCA informed TFF they could not use the GCCA name, but could use it as a benefactor. So in beginning in 1996, the Texas Fly Fishers renamed the tournament after the original Redfish Rodeo. The event is moved back and forth between Port O'Connor and Rockport. Our format is simple. Charge enough to cover the meals, rent, and door prizes, and hold a raffle to generate a donation for a local conservation /education directed organization, our primary purpose is to educate the public about catch and release and have a good time while doing it.
The Redfish Rodeo is a two-person team, honor system fly fishing contest.
These guidelines are subject to change and modification as directed by the Redfish Rodeo Board of Directors and Rules Committee.
AND, after the boat is on the trailer…
From 5:00 – 6:30 pm on Saturday evening, we'll all gather for the Rodeo Social Hour, the official "weigh in" and awards. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
Marsh Madness
“Around, around, around it goes, where we’ll fish, nobody knows ”
How to sign up: Sign Up Online Here, call or e-mail the trip leader.
How to get outing waiver form: Download and Print Required item.
Directions: TBD
Trip Details: TBD
Important items:
Recommended guidelines for participants:
No outing - see you at the party.
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